T’s Tantan specializes in vegan ramen dishes on the east side of Tokyo Station. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes)
In the whirlwind of Tokyo Station, there are scores of places serving food and drinks, but T’s Tantan stands out because everything on the menu is vegan.
Expect to wait for upwards of 15 minutes before being seated due to the high demand the restaurant experiences for its vegan ramen.
Once inside, you’ll have the option of a digital menu on a tablet or the physical menus on each table. Orders are placed via tablet.
T’s Tantan makes several substitutions to make its ramen vegan friendly, including the noodles and broth. The regular noodles are replaced with rice noodles, and the restaurant uses several plant-based broths instead of the traditional bone broth.
Though many non-vegans may be skeptical of the taste and texture of these vegan dishes, they are almost indistinguishable from regular ramen.
The relatively short menu offers only three sides: vegetable gyoza, rice and a mini rice bowl with soy meat.
For dessert, there’s a small selection of vegan gelato.
When it’s time to pay up, the tablet has a button to view your total and offers a built-in calculation tool for splitting the check within your group.
Overall, T’s Tantan is a pleasant break from the hectic nature of Tokyo Station and can leave even omnivorous customers satisfied with its great-tasting food.
T’s Tantan
Location: 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Tokyo 100-0005, with a second location near Ikebukuro Station.
Directions: From the first floor at Tokyo Station, follow the signs for the Keiyo Line on the east side. The restaurant is in the corner on the right, just before the beginning of the transfer passage.
Hours: Open daily, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Prices: Expect to pay between 1,080 and 3,760 yen, or $7.33 and $25.52.
Dress: Casual
Information: Online: ts-restaurant.jp/tantan
AloJapan.com